Psalm 104 2

Psalm 104:2 kjv

Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:

Psalm 104:2 nkjv

Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.

Psalm 104:2 niv

The LORD wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent

Psalm 104:2 esv

covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.

Psalm 104:2 nlt

You are dressed in a robe of light.
You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens;

Psalm 104 verses

Psalm 104 2 Meaning

Psalm 104:2 describes the Creator God, YHWH, in majestic terms. He is portrayed as cloaking Himself in radiant light, akin to wearing a glorious garment, and meticulously spreading out the vast heavens as if they were a finely woven tent. This verse emphasizes God's self-existent glory, His direct involvement in creation, and His infinite power that brings order and form to the cosmos.

Psalm 104 2 Context

Psalm 104 is a hymn of creation, celebrating YHWH as the sovereign Creator and sustainer of the universe. It vividly describes God's ongoing work from the cosmic light and heavens (v. 2) to the waters, mountains, animals, and provision for mankind, echoing and elaborating upon themes found in Genesis chapter 1. The Psalm showcases God's wisdom, power, and glory reflected in the natural world. Historically, it may serve as a powerful polemic against the polytheistic cosmogonies prevalent in ancient Near Eastern cultures, where natural phenomena were attributed to a pantheon of lesser, often battling, deities. By declaring that YHWH alone "wraps Himself in light" and "stretches out the heavens," the psalmist refutes any notion that the elements are independent, chaotic, or controlled by other gods, asserting God's sole, majestic control over all creation.

Psalm 104 2 Word analysis

• He wraps himself:
  • עֹטֶה (‘oṭeh): The verb "wrap, clothe, cover." It suggests an intentional act of adorning oneself, signifying God's active engagement and not a passive existence. This shows God's self-revelation and immediate presence within His creation, rather than being a distant, disengaged entity. The imagery also highlights an inherent part of God's being—He is not given light but covers Himself with light, as its source.
• light:
  • אוֹר (’or): This refers to the primordial, fundamental light created on the first day in Genesis 1:3, existing prior to the sun, moon, and stars. It is divine light, essential for life and distinct from any created light source. The term conveys purity, holiness, and the very essence of God's being.
• as a garment:
  • כַּשַּׂלְמָה (kassalmāh): "Like a garment" or "mantle." A garment symbolizes dignity, majesty, authority, and identity. God's glory and unapproachable splendor are so inherent and fundamental to Him that He "wears" light as His very clothing, revealing His majestic essence. This is His chosen mode of revelation, a veil of blinding glory.
• who stretches out:
  • נוֹטֶה (noṭeh): The verb "to stretch, pitch, spread out." This is a recurring verb used for God’s creative act in relation to the heavens. It implies vastness, effortlessness, and careful design. It is often used for spreading out a tent or curtain, giving a sense of vastness that can also provide covering and order. The active participle suggests a continuous, sustained action of God in maintaining creation.
• the heavens:
  • שָׁמַיִם (shamayim): This term refers to the visible sky, the atmosphere, and the celestial realms. In this context, it refers to the expanse of the sky and space which God unfurled, revealing His architectural mastery. It encompasses the visible firmament where birds fly and the more distant realms where stars are set.
• like a tent:
  • כַּיְרִיעָה (kayriy‘āh): "Like a tent curtain," "canopy." A tent provides shelter, order, and habitation. This metaphor for the heavens underscores God's personal design and the provision of a structured, orderly dwelling for all creation within its expanse. It implies intimacy and God's overarching protection and control over the vast cosmic space, making it livable and beautiful, contrasting with ancient myths of a chaotic sky.

Psalm 104 2 Bonus section

The poetic parallelism in this verse (clothing oneself with light // stretching out the heavens) links the most fundamental aspects of creation directly to God's inherent being and deliberate action. The choice of "tent" imagery for the heavens is particularly significant, as tents provided essential shelter and organization in a nomadic culture, implying stability and care within a seemingly infinite expanse. This also subtly ties into the idea of God "tabernacling" among His people, making His presence accessible yet still awe-inspiringly grand.

Psalm 104 2 Commentary

Psalm 104:2 encapsulates God's ultimate supremacy and unparalleled majesty as Creator. The imagery of Him "wrapping Himself in light as a garment" declares that light is not an external accessory but an intrinsic attribute of His being; He is light personified and the very source of all illumination, whether physical or spiritual. This refutes any concept of God needing external sources for His glory or being bound by the creation of light itself, for He is the one who initiates and embodies it. The subsequent depiction of Him "stretching out the heavens like a tent" further highlights His divine power, meticulous planning, and profound wisdom. The heavens, in their vastness and complexity, are not a product of chance or chaotic forces, but rather a carefully pitched "tent" by the divine Architect, suggesting not just order but also an intentional dwelling for His created world. This verse positions God as the benevolent, active sovereign over all cosmic elements, leaving no room for the mythological deities of other nations to claim jurisdiction over light or the celestial canopy. It is a powerful affirmation of monotheistic creative power, where the one true God establishes and sustains His cosmos effortlessly, beautifully, and perpetually.